Florio

Established in 1832 by Vincenzo Florio, the prestigious winery
of Marsala is still today the protagonist of important pages of history and
great wines, such as the new Marsala Superiore Riserva Donna Franca

The history of Marsala is among the most amazing ones known today, not only
because it is a wine discovered as an accidental consequence by its
inventor, but also for the fact it is one of the greatest Italian wines. In
past times, Marsala has been capable of being compared and winning the challenge
against the wines considered at those times the best ones in the world. After up
and downs, today Marsala is living a new and shining life, where quality is
finally one of the main characteristics of this wine, while leaving back - and
hopefully forever - the errors and mistakes done by many producers for too many
years. In the course of the last twenty years, producers made considerable
efforts in order to finally give back to Marsala the dignity this great wine is
worth of, as well as paying higher attention on the vinification practices and
on quality. In fact, today we can say the famous Victory Wine, very
appreciated by admiral Horatio Nelson, is finally back.

A view of Florio Winery

The history of Marsala, despite it is now very popular, it is always worth to
remember, a history having among its protagonists Vincenzo Florio, the first
Italian to establish a winery dedicated to the production of this wine. History
tells in 1773, because of a storm, the English merchant John Woodhouse was
forced to land to the port of Marsala, instead to the one of Mazara del Vallo,
where he was sailing for his businesses. When he set his foot on land, he
entered a tavern in search of relief and relax and here he had the chance to try
the local wine. In fact they served him some perpetuum, the wine
traditionally produced at Marsala. Perpetuum - or perpetuo
(literally, perpetual) - was produced by filling the cask with the wine of the
latest harvesting and then drawn off according to need, the cask was then
refilled - which contained some of the wine of all the preceding vintages -
with new wine. A wine therefore undergoing a natural oxidation process according
to its progressive emptying and taking new life with the adding of the wine
from the new vintage.

Woodhouse found that wine particularly good, also because it reminded him the
famous wines of Madeira and Jerez, being very appreciated in his homeland. Being
a talented merchant, he decided to ship some of that wine to England while
hoping to start a flourishing commerce. As Woodhouse knew of the adverse
condition the wine is usually suffering in the holds of ships, he decided to add
some brandy to each cask in order to ensure a better keeping. Then Woodhouse
returned to England with his precious load and, when he arrived, he realized the
reinforced wine was become better than when he left Sicily: it was a
striking success. Woodhouse returned back to Sicily and established his winery
for the production of wine: in few years his Marsala wine became successful in
England and it soon become the wine mainly consumed in the ships of Her
Britannic Majesty's fleet. It is said Horatio Nelson - who particularly
appreciated Marsala - used to celebrate the victories in his battles with this
wine, and for this reason it was called victory wine.

Carlo Casavecchia, Wine maker and
general manager of Cantine Florio

At the beginning of the 1800s, two Englishmen, encouraged by the success of
Woodhouse, entered the history of Marsala: Benjamin Ingham and his nephew John
Whitaker who established Ingham winery near the one of Woodhouse. Thanks to
their work, the quality and the production of Marsala developed greatly. It will
be in 1832 the first Italian will enter the scene of Marsala. It was Vincenzo
Florio - skilled merchant from Bagnara Calabra, at those times successful
merchant of spices and descendant from one of the most prestigious and rich
Italian family of that time - who decided to establish his winery between the
ones of Woodhouse and Ingham. The contribution of Vincenzo Florio for the
development and the image of Marsala was remarkable. Thanks to this, Marsala
soon changed its image and from wine destined to the sailors of the English
fleet, it became a wine appreciated and looked for in the noble courts all over
Europe. The skill and the success of the Florio family and their wines seems to
be unstoppable and in 1904 they establish, together with other entrepreneurs of
Marsala, S.A.V.I (Società Anonima Vinicola Italiana, Anonymous Italian
Wine making Society) which in few years acquires the wineries of Woodhouse and
Ingham-Whitaker.

In 1924, because of the lack of male inheritors, the Florio family decides to
sell the winery of Marsala to Cinzano, another important family in the history
of Italian wine. In the course of the last world war, because of the bombing
raids of the allied aviation, Florio wineries were severely damaged, and the
restoration of the winery required a very long time, and only in 1984 the
restoration will be completed. In January 1998 the control of Florio winery
passes to ILLVA Saronno Holding, which in 1987 already owned the 50% of the
firm's shares, therefore beginning a new and important chapter of this
historical winery. Important and fundamental changes in the production and
commercial management are in fact introduced, by putting wine maker Carlo
Casavecchia in charge of the production management. Thanks to his competence and
skill, Carlo Casavecchia will give a fundamental contribution to the rebirth of
Marsala Florio - as well as to the qualitative image of Marsala in general - by
adopting scrupulous selections in every phase of production and by introducing
productive criteria of very high quality. The result of the Carlo Casavecchia's
and Florio's work are now indisputable: Marsala is today living again the
glorious events of its history and the Florio name is everywhere in the world
the synonym of quality Marsala.

The current production of Florio Winery is divided between excellent Marsala and
sweet wines, such as Malvasia delle Lipari, Passito di Pantelleria, Grecale and
Morsi di Luce, an excellent wine made from Moscato d'Alessandria, known in
Sicily as Zibibbo. Florio is currently producing five different styles of
Marsala: Marsala Superiore Vecchioflorio - an excellent value wine - Marsala
Superiore Riserva Targa, Marsala Vergine Terre Arse, the excellent Marsala
Vergine Baglio Florio and, the last born, Marsala Superiore Riserva Donna
Franca, a tribute to Donna Franca Florio, a prominent figure of belle
epoque, as well as woman of refined class and beauty. Marsala Superiore Riserva
Donna Franca is in fact the last magic created by wine maker Carlo Casavecchia,
result of years of researches and studies, which led to the creation of this
charming and smooth wine which will certainly be capable of satisfying the sense
of the most exacting enthusiasts. Donna Franca is in fact a Marsala Superiore
Riserva of indisputable class and elegance, a continuous discovery made of
aromas and emotions, the confirmation of the quality Marsala Florio has been
capable to prove in the course of its long and prestigious history.

Score legend

Fair Pretty Good Good Very Good Excellent Wine that excels in its category Good value winePrices are to be considered as indicative. Prices may vary according to the countryor the shop where wines are bought

Marsala Superiore Riserva Targa Riserva 1840 1997

Florio (Sicily, Italy)

Grapes: Grillo

Price: € 11.00

Score:

Marsala Superiore Riserva Targa Riserva 1840 shows a deep amber yellow
color and nuances of amber yellow, transparent. The nose denotes intense,
clean, pleasing and refined aromas that start with hints of fig jam,
caramel and almond followed by aromas of rancho, apricot jam, vanilla,
honey, orange marmalade, date, licorice and leather. The mouth has good
correspondence to the nose, an alcoholic and sweet attack, however
balanced, full body, intense flavors, pleasing roundness. The finish is
persistent with flavors of fig jam, date and almond. Marsala Superiore
Riserva Targa Riserva 1840 ages for at least 6 years in cask followed by at
least 6 months of aging in bottle.

Food Match: Confectionery, Almond tarts, Hard and piquant cheese

Marsala Vergine Terre Arse 1998

Florio (Sicily, Italy)

Grapes: Grillo

Price: € 15.50

Score:

Marsala Vergine Terre Arse shows a brilliant amber yellow color and nuances
of amber yellow, very transparent. The nose reveals intense, clean,
pleasing and refined aromas that start with hints of rancho, dried fig and
almond followed by aromas of walnut husk, vanilla, citrus fruit peel, nail
polish, raisin, honey, date and licorice. The mouth has good correspondence
to the nose, an alcoholic attack and pleasing roundness, however balanced,
full body, intense flavors. The finish is persistent with flavors of dried
fig, almond and honey. Marsala Vergine Terre Arse ages for at least 8 years
in cask followed by at least 6 months of aging in bottle.

Food Match: Smoked fish, Roasted meat, Hard cheese

Marsala Vergine Baglio Florio 1993

Florio (Sicily, Italy)

Grapes: Grillo

Price: € 18.00 - 50cl

Score:

Marsala Vergine Baglio Florio shows a brilliant amber yellow color and
nuances of amber yellow, very transparent. The nose reveals intense, clean,
pleasing, refined and elegant aromas which start with hints of rancho,
dried fig and almond followed by aromas of walnut husk, honey, vanilla,
licorice, apricot jam, nail polish, tobacco, raisin, citrus fruit peel and
leather. The mouth has excellent correspondence to the nose, an alcoholic
attack and pleasing roundness, however balanced, full body, intense
flavors. The finish is very persistent with long flavors of dried fig,
almond and honey. A well made wine. Marsala Vergine Baglio Florio ages for
more than 10 years in cask followed by at least one year of aging in
bottle.

Food Match: Smoked fish, Roasted meat, Hard cheese

Marsala Superiore Riserva Semisecco Ambra Donna Franca

Florio (Sicily, Italy)

Grapes: Grillo

Price: € 25.00 - 50cl

Score:

Marsala Superiore Riserva Donna Franca shows an intense amber yellow color
and nuances of amber yellow, transparent. The nose reveals intense, clean,
pleasing, refined and elegant aromas that start with hints of dried
apricot, dried fig, date and almond followed by aromas of caramel, vanilla,
candied fruit, raisin, rhubarb, nail polish, citrus fruits peel, honey and
licorice. The mouth has excellent correspondence to the nose, an alcoholic
and sweet attack, however balanced, full body, intense flavors, pleasing
roundness. The finish is very persistent with long flavors of dried
apricot, dried fig, honey and almond. A well made wine. Marsala Superiore
Riserva Donna Franca is the evolution of Riserva Aegusa, selection of the
best Florio's Marsala created around the end of the 1800s. Ages for at least
15 years in cask followed by at least 6 months of aging in bottle.

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